Tension-bar mechanism for knitting machines



R. ULLRICH June 10, 1930.

TENSION BAR MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed April 17, 1929 Ills--1 lNVENl ofi: judo; UI/Zrwh,

ATTORNEYS;

Patented June 10, 1930 UNITED STATE'SPATENT OFFICE I BUDOLF 'U'LLRICH, OF WYOMISSING, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO TEXTILE'MACHINE WORKS, OF WYOMISSING, PENNSYLVANIA, A. COB- POBATION OF PENNSYLVANIA i TENSION-BAR MECHANISM Application filed April 17,

My invention relates to full fashioned knitting machines, and more particularly to the take-up tensioning mechanism thereof, my main objects being to increase the speed of. production by providing means for automatically and simultaneously disengaging the tension-bars from their fabric engagements upon release of the take-up tension, and to provide for automatically positioning the disengaged tension-bars so as to safeguard the fabric hooks and facilitate their reengagement.

My improvements comprise means tending to reversely move the released tension-bars so as to automatically disengage them from the fabrics, and for automatically retaining them in safe and convenient position for a following reengagement, as fully hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawings; the novel features which I desire to secure by Letters Patent being pointed out in the subj oined claims.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a full fashioned knitting machine, showing severalneedle sections and their fabric-engaged tension-bars, and indicating a simple embodiment of my invention as adapted for advantageously supporting the disengaged bars and also for automatically effecting their disengagement upon release of the take-up tension.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the combined bar-supporting and bar-disengaging shelf shown in Fig. 1 a central portion of the preferably full length device being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, indicating the automatic disengaging action of the inclined shelf upon a tension-released bar; its sliding movement carrying it to convenient supported position upon the shelf.

The knitting machine indicated in the drawings is of known sectional construction adapted to simultaneously knit a plurality of stockings or the like, 1 indicating the usual needles, 2 the common take-up shaft, and 3 the take-up drums spacedly secured on the latter and each having a flexible strap 4 with a tension-bar 5 secured to its free end and. adapted to be engaged with the fabric in FOR KNITTING MACHINES 1929. Serial No. 355,706.

usual manner. Take-up tension is imparted to shaft 2 as heretofore through a drum 6 and adjustablyweighted tension cord 7, a pawllocked handle 8 being commonly provided to wind up said drum. The operation of the drums 3, rotated by the action of weighted cord 7, is to slowly rotate so as to take-up the fabric as produced and maintain a regulated tension on the latter, as heretofore and well understood.

The tension bars 5 shown are of known con struction and are indicated as provided with fabric engaging hooks 10. These bars 5 are necessarily manually engaged with the separate fabrics 11, and have heretofore been commonly disengaged manually after completion of the fabric and release of their tension. Thus each bar required individual disengagement, with a considerable interruption between the knitting operations of the machine; while my present invention provides for simultaneously disengaging all the bars 5 automatically upon release of the tension, in addition to providing a convenient and safeguarding support for the ordinarily dangling bars.

The bar-supporting and disengaging means employed, asshown in the drawings, comprise a shelf or series of shelves 15, mounted to lie beneath the normally tensioned bars 5, and rearwardly inclined for the purpose stated and hereinafter referred to. The shelf, as shown, extends beneath two bars 5, for convenience in mounting between the usually spaced frame members 16, and is secured to bed plate 17 in any convenient manner with the free edge 18 extending toward the take-up drums 3. As shown, the shelf or shelves 15 are simply formed with upwardly bent rear wall portions 19, having rearwardly bent securing extensions 20, preferably slotted at 21 for convenient adjustable engagement with bolts 22 on the underside of said bed plate 17.

The shelves 15 are so located and fixedly held that when the tension on shaft 2 is released upon completion of the fabric, the tension bars 5 will be relaxed and will sag until they rest on the shelves 15 and, due to the incline of the latter, such bars will then slide rearwardly, as clearly seen in Fig. 3; tion thereof and adapted to coact therewith such rearward movement acting to disengage so as to facilitate fabric-disengaging movetheir hooks 10 from their fabric engagements ment of the bar when the tension is released.

and free the latter. As the shelves 15 extend under each tension bar 5 employed, they will all be simultaneously released without individual handling, and the released bars will rest against the back walls 19 in convenient position for ready application to succeeding fabrics; all danger of damage to the hooks, such as commonly occurs without such shelf support, being eliminated, and their disengagement from the fabric if this has not been automatically effected as described, as well as their reengagement when desired, being greatly facilitated.

My disengaging means thus fully set forth provides in a simple and economical manner for the automatic and simultaneous release of the tension bars from their fabrics, and for theiridle support in convenient position for reuse. No means to my knowledge, have heretofore been employed for these purposes, and I do not desire to limit myself to the specific construction shown and. described, but- What I claim is:

1. In a full-fashioned knitting machine having a tension take-up mechanism comprising a fabric-engaging tension-bar, supporting means for said bar located below the operat-ively-tensioned position thereof and adapted to coact therewith so as to facilitate fabric-disengaging movement of the bar when the tension is released.

2. In a full-fashioned knitting-machine having a tension take-up mechanism comprising a fabric-engaging tension-bar, fixed supporting means for said bar located below the operatively-tensioned position thereof and adapted to coact therewith so as to facilitate fabric-disengaging movement of the bar when the tension is released.

3. In a full-fashioned knitting machine having a tension take-up mechanism comprising a fabric-engaging tension-bar, an inclined supporting shelf for said bar located below the operatively-tensioned position thereof and adapted to coact therewith so as to facilitate fabric-disengaging movement of the bar when the tension is released.

4. In a full-fashioned knitting machine havin a tension take-up mechanism comprising a abric-engaging tension-bar, supporting means for said bar located'below the operatively-tensioned position thereof and adapted to receive the lowered bar when tension is released and to hold the same in adjacent relation to the disengaged fabric.

5. A multiple section full-fashioned knitting machine comprising a series of take-up tension-bars each having a flexible connection to a common tensioning shaft, and supporting means for each of said tension bars located below the operatively-tensioned posi- In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

RUDOLF ULLRIOH. 

